older saddles, do they have more problems like trees cracking, or safe to buy?

[bluecharm7]

I have a 13 yr old Selle Francaise made by Crosby. It is also a midrange English saddle, made with French leather. I still ride in this saddle 5 days a week. My tree is not broken and the leather is still in great condition.

I agree with some of the other posters it’s like buying a car. You might get a lemon or you might not and it really doesn’t matter which brand you buy there is still a risk.

But looking at an older saddle like that if you don’t know the history then I would really get it checked. Unless it was an amazing price then I wouldn’t worry as much.

[candysgirl]

It absolutely depends on the saddle in question.

I’ve seen Collegiates that are 20+yo and are perfectly fine. I have several different Stubbens that are 10-30 years old. They are all perfectly functional, lovely saddles. Stitching is just fine. Trees are all fine. They hold up very well to use and abuse.

I think it also depends on how well they’re taken care of. I’ve seen lots of really expensive French saddles look like absolute trash after only a couple of years because they weren’t taken care of. From what I can tell, they don’t seem to do as well with benign neglect as something like a Stubben does.

As far as Toulouses go? I’ve yet to see one I’m impressed by. The quality seems to be all over the place. Some are okay-ish. Some are lopsided and all kinds of wonky.

[RubyTuesday]

[QUOTE=TSWJB;7345398]
thank you very much jn4jenny! you gave me a lot to think about! I really don’t know what kind of saddle I want. I always bought my saddles from Bevals. I do like the Beval natural, but the first tree cracked after 7 years and the second saddle the tree cracked at one year. they did replace the tree, but I hear it squeaking again and while I don’t feel the tree cracking thru, I am just not sure if the saddle is going to hold up. I have no idea what I am doing to break the trees. I have never had any falls, I keep them on a saddle tree, and take care of them. the saddles seem to fit my horse. No rubs or anything.
So now I am trying to decide what I want, and I am being influenced by friends to buy French. not sure why I want a French saddle? I think because I don’t have an idea of what I would want otherwise. All this talk of tree cracking is worrying me though and while the saddle looks like its in good shape, it is 10 years old. I was wondering if maybe the tree falls apart just like a riding helmet does after a few years.[/QUOTE]

Maybe stop listening to friends and decide what YOU like or are comfortable with?

I had someone keep trying to convince me that a Niedersuss Symphonie was all that and a bag of chips. Um, no it’s not. The saddle in question as tried at the time was too wide in the twist and otherwise uncomfortable for me at different points. Most Albions that are sized generously for their measurement seem to work well for me, so that’s what I’ve stood by. If a saddle doesn’t work for some reason, you shouldn’t try to make it work just because it is someone’s idea of trendy. The saddles we’re discussing here all cost too much to be something you either hate or are worried about failure of.